Some people say the respected Companions did not read salutation this manner therefore it is an innovation.

In reply, I would like to say that if this is the case that all those practices not done by the respected Companions are innovations then what about the form of the books of holy Qur’aan today, for example on colorfully decorated pages, printed by various methods with diacritical signs, translations, footnotes, interpretations etc. Also today’s form of the books of Ahadees including their explanations, the books of jurisprudence (Fiqh), fundamentals of jurisprudence, course books etc. As well as the form of today’s religious schools, their method of teaching, class time tables, examinations, distribution of certificates, monthly and annual collection of donations, teachers’ salaries etc. And the manner in which gatherings for preaching are held today along with the form of today’s masaajid, salaries of the imaam, the mu’azzam and the committees and furthermore the journey of today’s Hajj pilgrimage. Similarly there are so many other practices. Did the Companions (Allaah have mercy on them) do all of this? Was all of this present at their time? No, absolutely not. So then those who deny peace and salutation should also call all the forms of these things innovations. And they should give speeches against them, print posters and try to eliminate them in every possible way. Why are they obsessed with only one thing that is Meelaad Shareef and standing for salutation?

Keep in mind, that if this manner (of Meelaad Shareef and standing for salutation) was established by the respected Companions then it would have been either mandatory or Sunnat (Prophetic tradition). And we don’t call it mandatory or sunnat. According to us reading salutation in this manner is mustahab (desirable). And a mustahab act is one that is considered good by the true Muslims like this saying of the holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu ‘Alaiehi Wa Sallam):

“Whatever is good [righteous] according to the Muslims [true believers] is also good before Allaah.” – (Ahmad: 3600. Al Mustadrik: 4465.) Excerpt -Blessings of Meelaad Shareef by Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Shafee Okarvi [Rahmatul Laah Alaieh]